– Michael Sheen as Lucian (Enslaved as a baby, Lucian has only been able to imagine the full extent of his Lycan powers. In the evolution from werewolf to Lycan, Lucian feels the responsibility of the Lycan race resting on his shoulders. At the same time, his love for the vampire, Sonja, complicates his desire for freedom from the Vampires.)– Rhona Mitra as Sonja (Sonja is the daughter of the powerful Vampire Elder, Viktor. Beautiful and brave, her nightly patrols defend the Coven from the hoards of ferocious werewolves. Despite her father’s hatred for the Lycan race, she has fallen in love with the Lycan slave, Lucian. She battles between the desire to fulfill the responsibilities that come with her lineage and her willful nature. Because of her love for Lucian, she is sympathetic to the enslaved Lycans’ plight.)

– Bill Nighy as Viktor (One of three ruling Vampire Elders, Viktor is a haughty, ostentatious Vampire overlord nearly 1,000 years old. Like most Vampires, he has a severe loathing for Lycans but also a fascination with their unique strengths. Through slavery and torture, he has created a small but mighty force of enslaved Lycans. Despite his best efforts to govern the Coven, the Council members have begun to question his leadership.)

Plus a short scene for Kate Beckinsale:

– Kate Beckinsale as Selene (Beckinsale did not film new footage, a scene from Underworld will be used to bookend the film)

Opening this Friday, Underworld Rise of the Lycans is the third Underworld movie directed by Patrick Tatopoulos. :)

Have you been disappointed to learn that Selene (Kate Beckinsale) wouldn’t be in Underworld 3? Then be glad that Director Patrick Tatopoulos is trying to make amend by adding some yet unseen footage featuring Selene to the final cut of Underworld Rise of the Lycans.

“[…] director Patrick Tatopoulos previewed a number of scenes from his upcoming Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. While there, we got to talking with one crew member who revealed the threequel will open and close with Selene (as played by Kate Beckinsale). When asked if it was new footage, we were told it was a scene from Len Wiseman’s 2003 Underworld that will be used to bookend the film. So this next installment will not be Beckinsale-less after all. Stay tuned for more on our visit to Luma in the coming days!”

In case you don’t know the synopsis of Underworld 3, aka Underworld Rise of the Lycans, here’s the plot:

The prequel will trace the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Viktor’s daughter Sonja (Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

I hope to see her starring even more often in fantasy and sci-fi movies, like in Doomsday for example: Rhona Mitra rocks like hell!. :)

An official trailer of Underworld 3 is available since a few weeks. But did you see the bootleg underworld 3 trailer that leaked online back in August? This cut of the Rise of the lycans trailer was slightly different:

A new Underworld movie will be released in January. Underworld Rise of the Lycans is actually a prequel story that aims to explore the origins of the conflict between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.